I’m somewhat limited in what my options are with the new platform – I’m basically working with a site template at this point and changing/customizing what I can, but I don’t have the flexibility that I had with a standard FTP site. The folks at Hostbaby have been a huge help with things and have bent over backwards to let me make some changes that aren’t really supported thru their “wizard”, so a big thanks to them. I just really need something where I can get the site setup the way I want it, with a good content management system, but I don’t have the time or the know-how to build it from scratch right now.

Anyway, I wanted the mention the pics because I may go thru and try to correct the links that got broken for some of them, but for a lot I’ll probably just have to leave them and concentrate on moving forward!

Rock & Roll Jubilee

This is the tribute show that Brad & I are in, along with Jim Wark, George Garrett, Brian Sulser and BJ Kocen. We pay tribute to Elvis, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson, and the Everly Brothers in a 2-hour show that’s a mix of songs & live comedy. So far we’ve had 5 shows over the last year & a half, with another scheduled for September. We’ll post updates about the shows here, as well as on the Tater calendar and the new Facebook page.

Sensory Lullabies – The Ultimate Tribute to Jellyfish

This tribute CD was released 2 years ago, and features 38 cover versions (?!) of Jellyfish songs. The Taters contributed our take on an unreleased tune, “Queen of the USA”. You can find the CD here, and it’s also on iTunes & Amazon (CD or MP3). As of this posting, you can get it on the Burning Sky site for $19.99 for the 2 CD set.

If I… If I… If I… The Songs of Squeeze Revisited

This is the latest project we’re involved in, another tribute CD from Burning Sky. This one features the songs of Squeeze, a big influence in Taterland, as any true Taterhead knows  We did a calypso version of Goodbye Girl on this one, which featured several guests along with the regular Tater plate – George Garrett added bongos, and Cole Evans put some percussion on. Can’t wait to hear the whole project when it’s done. No date announced at this point, but maybe sometime next year.

Last Sunday, early afternoon. It’s warm and sunny. I’m sitting in the minivan with everyone buckled in. We’re pulling out of the driveway, on our way to saunter about Old Town Alexandria – there’s lots of grass and boats and such; great for kids (ooh, and they sell ice cream there too). We start moving through our ‘hood, headed toward the main road. From the back, Declan (he’s 2 1/2 now) says, “Aoh see Noah”. We recognize “Aoh” as “I want to”. But of course, the rest is pretty cryptic. We don’t know any Noahs.

Mami asks, “what do you want Declan?”

“Aoh see Noah”.

“Noah who?”

“Aoh see Noah, Mami”

“Ok, but where’s Noah? We don’t have Noah.”

“Aoh see Noah, Papi”

“Who is Noah, Declan? Is he a friend?”

“Noooo! Aoh see Noah plis. Plis?”

This goes on, back and forth for several minutes. Declan is getting frustrated and is starting to cry (due to lack of Noah).  Mami is getting exasperated and says “Declan, we can’t give you Noah unless you tell us what Noah is!”  After a pregnant pause, Declan says, “Sing Noah Mami”. I perk up at the clarification: “What? You sing it! Sing it to us!”

Immediately Declan sings, “Noah, Noah, Noah, Noah, don’t!”

The latin music is immediately ejected from the player and is replaced by Menagerie. We hastily press buttons until Track 2 is playing. Declan begins to giggle in the backseat and our trip to Alexandria continues as planned. Papi giggles too, but for different reasons.

Last thing – after the song is finished, he asks (and I’m not making this up) “Aont Such a Good Day Papi”

For the record, we do NOT discuss Taters or similar topics with either of the kids (not that Taters are taboo or anything, it just doesn’t come up). He’s just picked it up while listening.

Now, if we can just hang on until he’s old enough to go to shows or buy CDs…